Exercising is essential for living a long, healthy, happy life.

The benefits of fitness are countless and impact one’s physical and mental well-being. Getting in shape and staying in shape is easier said than done.

It requires a healthy diet and a tailored exercise plan that is consistently followed.

We all need help sometimes along the way to achieving our fitness goals.

Whether you are just starting out or a well-conditioned athlete, a certified personal trainer will provide the necessary guidance and motivation to allow you to reach your fitness aspirations.

The menu at the top of this page will answer any question related to your personal training. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment here (I’ll respond within 24 hours).

Also, visit the home page for the most recent and popular articles. If you’d like to become a trainer, take the quiz to see which certifications are right for you.

How to Find a Personal Trainer & Benefits of Training 4

What certification is right for you?

We developed this critical quiz to help you find the best certification for you and your goals.

The infographic below will provide you with the 12 benefits of having a personal trainer.

Benefits of Having a Personal Trainer Infographic

Benefits of a Personal Trainer

Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Personal Trainer for You

Having any Joe Shmoe off the street tell you what exercise to do next will most likely not help you achieve your fitness goals and potentially hinder your progress by causing you to injure yourself or discourage you mentally.

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Your success depends on finding a well trained and qualified personal trainer that is a good fit for you personally.

The following guide will provide the necessary knowledge of where to find a personal trainer, what you should look for in a personal trainer, and the right questions to ask so you end up with the right personal trainer to help you reach your fitness goals.

How to Find a Personal Trainer & Benefits of Training 5
How to Find a Personal Trainer & Benefits of Training 6

Where do you find a personal trainer?

There are multiple avenues you can go to find a personal trainer. Most gyms have personal trainers available, which is not a bad option as many gyms will not allow outside personal trainers to have sessions at their gyms.

You can also look at personal trainer directories online. Ideafit.com has one of the largest personal trainer directories on the web.

You can also directly ask friends, family, or gym members for recommendations. Either of these approaches will most likely result in you finding the right personal trainer if you follow the advice in this guide.

What are their qualifications or credentials?

Knowing that the trainer has the appropriate knowledge and expertise to do the job is important. Anybody can call themselves a trainer, but a good personal trainer will have the proper credentials.

You should determine if the trainer has an NCCA-accredited certification.

There are over 70 certification agencies, but the most popular certifications are NCCA-accredited, including NASM, ACE, ACSM, and NSCA. You can search here to see if the certifying agency is NCCA-accredited.

Most certifications have a renewal period of between two and four years. It is not unwise to request to see the trainer’s certification or obtain their certification number to confirm it is current.

I would not say this is a requirement. Still, it is a plus if the trainer also has a college degree in exercise science or another related field, as this further ensures their foundation of knowledge around exercise and the body.

What is their work experience and specialization?

Just like in any job, work experience is essential in developing one’s skills and expertise. It is good to ask how many years the personal trainer has worked with clients like yourself.

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It is essential to determine not only the length of experience but also the type of knowledge and the applicability of such experience to your needs.

If you are a 50-year-old woman with some arthritis issues, a personal trainer’s ten years of experience working with highly conditioned college athletes may not be so valuable.

That is why it is also critical to determine if you require any specialized training, such as requiring rehabilitation from an injury, and determining if the trainer has the qualifications and experience necessary to address these needs adequately.

Who are their references?

Ask the personal trainer for references. I am not talking about their past managers but actual clients they worked with in the past. Specifically, ask for clients who are similar to you regarding your goals and fitness level.

The trainer should be able to provide you with a few names and numbers that you can personally contact.

Ask these past clients about their overall experience with the trainer and whether the trainer was able to address their needs. Ask them about the type of training style used (e.g., drill sergeant, gentle, etc.) and whether the trainer was consistently on time and prepared.

Is the trainer a good fit?

Talking to the trainer and former clients will help you better assess whether the trainer fits you. Discuss your needs and goals with the trainer and ask them about their general approach to addressing them.

Simply chatting with the trainer for a few minutes will allow you to get a feel for their personality and determine if you would get along.

You will spend many long hours with this person, so it is good to determine if you will be compatible professionally and personally.

Beyond just checking the boxes, trust your gut on whether you feel this trainer is a good fit and someone you can work with.

How much do they charge?

Prices can vary significantly from trainer to trainer ($20 – $100 per hour). These rates are based on various factors, including the trainer’s experience and reputation, the gym or facilities used, and general geographic location.

The trainer or the gym with which the trainer is affiliated may have package deals in which you receive a discounted rate for committing to a certain number of sessions.

It will come down to what you have personally budgeted and your preference on whether you want to approach the sessions week by week or commit to multiple sessions.

What are the business policies, and are they insured?

Whether the trainer is affiliated with a company such as a gym or independently contracting their services, it is essential to fully understand their business policies, including their scheduling and cancellation policies and the billing process.

You must also confirm their professional liability insurance if they work for themselves.

What is their availability?

Beyond just understanding the trainer’s scheduling procedures, it is essential to ask the trainer about their availability and determine if that fits with your schedule.

You may prefer to work out in the mornings, at lunch, or in the evenings.

You need to know the trainer is available at those times and days that you want to work out. Ensure they don’t have personal obligations or already have regular clients scheduled during these times.

Conclusion

If you do the appropriate due diligence by following this guide, you will have no problem finding a personal trainer that fulfills your needs and meets your budget. With the right personal trainer, you will significantly increase your chances of reaching your fitness goals.

If there is anything else you think is important to consider when finding the right personal trainer I have overlooked, please provide such suggestions in the comment box below.

Additionally, if you have any additional questions, please provide these questions in the comment box below as well, and I will get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.

Tyler Read - Certified Personal Trainer with PTPioneer

Tyler Read


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All content published on PTPioneer is checked and reviewed extensively by our staff of experienced personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and other Fitness Experts. This is to make sure that the content you are reading is fact-checked for accuracy, contains up-to-date information, and is relevant. We only add trustworthy citations that you can find at the bottom of each article. You can read more about our editorial integrity here.

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10 thoughts on “How to Find a Personal Trainer & Benefits of Training”

  1. I agree that you should find a gym and trainer that offer package deals with discount rates. My uncle needs to lower his blood pressure since his doctor his warning him of the health issues. I’ll have to research a good personal trainer for him so he can be more healthy.

    Reply
  2. I’ve been wanting to work out, but I barely know how to workout without injuring myself. It great to learn that a personal trainer has the knowledge and ability to teach me proper form to prevent injury. I guess it’s smart if I’ll just hire a personal training service.

    Reply
    • Hiring a personal training service is never a bad idea. If you want to learn the knowledge yourself though, it can be very valuable for helping your own training regimen as well as any of your friends and family members that you want to help out. The benefits of personal training go far beyond working as a personal trainer.

      Reply
  3. Great article Tyler. We are are new Personal training and group fitness location. You are preaching here with the points and we love it. Having a compatible trainer to your personality is crucial and it comes up al the time with clients. You have to have a level of confidence and trust in your trainer and that only comes from building a relationship with someone you like. Clients need to trust the trainer and the process. Great read thanks for putting it together.

    Matt
    PersonaltrainingOCNJ.com

    Reply
    • Thank you for the kind words. I completely agree with what you are saying and building trust and a strong relationship with your client is one of the most important things you can do as a personal trainer to be successful. Thanks for stopping by and dropping off your knowledge.

      Reply
  4. Completely agree. you have to check out your trainer before you start working with them. I remember I got a lot of recommendations for my trainer at trainerjoefit.com before I even entertained the thought of getting a personal trainer.

    Reply
    • This is definitely true Sam. I highly suggest trying a few trainers up before you pick one. Choose about three personal trainers and do a session with each of them to see which ones personality matches up with yours and who produces the better workouts.

      Reply
  5. I agree with you completely. Those looking for a trainer definitely needs to do their due diligence to seek out a personal trainer, whether its from a referral or from well written reviews.

    Thank you for the share.

    Reply

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